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Downhill cycling (DH) is a gravity-assisted time trial mountain biking event. Riders race against the clock, starting alone at set intervals, on courses which typically take two to five minutes to complete. The placing is determined by the fastest times to complete the course. As the name of this discipline implies, downhill races are held on steep, downhill terrain with no extended climbing sections, resulting in high speed descents with extended air time off of jumps and other obstacles. Image File history File links Information. ... Gravity is a force of attraction that acts between bodies that have mass. ... In many racing sports an athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. ... Mountain biker riding in the Arizona desert. ...

Signal Hill, Dunedin, NZ

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 552 KB) The last jump at the Signal Hill track near Dunedin, New Zealand. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 552 KB) The last jump at the Signal Hill track near Dunedin, New Zealand. ...

Downhill bikes and equipment

Main article: Downhill bike

A Downhill bike (also referred to as DH rigs or sleds) tend to weigh between 17 to 25 kg (35 to 50 pounds), and usually feature a full-suspension design, and frame geometry that leans back further than other mountain bikes. As of 2006, 203 mm (8-inch) is the 'norm' for suspension travel. Large-diameter 203 mm (8-inch) hydraulic disc brakes moderate the riders' speed, just like in motorcycles or cars. Downhill bikes and freeride bikes are very similar but there are some slight differences. Downhill race bikes typically are much lower and more slack than freeride bikes, so that the bike is more stable at speed and in corners. Freeride bikes have a more upright geometry and a higher bottom bracket height, so that they are better for jumping and stunts. The price of downhill and freeride bikes ranges from 1500 dollars for an entry level bike, all the way to 10,000 dollars for a top of the line world cup race bike.^{[citation needed]} The price differences have to do with the components that are on the bikes, also the more expensive bikes are usually made with higher quality materials and more time and care is put into quality frame production. Choosing components on a downhill bike is a constant battle between weight and strength. Parts have to be strong but still must be light. Recent advances in technology have allowed companies to make very strong but still very light components. Downhill Mountain Bikes typically have 8 or more inches (200 mm) of suspension travel. ... Downhill Mountain Bikes typically have 8 or more inches (200 mm) of suspension travel. ... The pound (abbreviations: lb or, sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass in a number of different systems, including various systems of units of mass that formed part of English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Vehicle brake. ...

DH mountain bike technology is considered the area in which most technological innovation occurs. As professional teams sometimes spend tens of thousands of dollars to save weight, increase suspension efficiency and improve handling they develop new materials and geometries that trickle through to consumer markets on a consumer level downhill bike and other bikes. Downhill Mountain Bikes typically have 8 or more inches (200 mm) of suspension travel. ...

Downhill gear features body armor and motocross-type helmets. A rider using a berm to corner during a motocross race in Australia Motocross (often shortened to MX or MotoX) is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. ...

Governing bodies

The Union Cycliste Internationale is the global governing body for downhill mountain bike racing. Racers qualify to compete in World Cup races by earning UCI points, which are gained by being a top ten finisher in certain races, usually national. Entrance of UCI headquarter at Aigle (Switzerland) Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is a professional cycling union that oversees cycling events in the international community. ...

In the U.S., NORBA, as part of USA Cycling, runs the National Mountain Bike Series, and the NCCA is the governing body for collegiate cycling. In the UK, British Cycling controls mountain biking as well as road and BMX. In Australia, MTBA controls all disciplines of Mountain biking. Norba, an ancient town of Latium (Adjectum), Italy. ... British Cycling (shortened to BC, formerly known as The British Cycling Federation or BCF) controls most of the competitive side of cycling in Great Britain, including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. ...

History of downhill cycling

The first downhill time-trial race took place in Fairfax, California on October 21, 1976 on a fireroad now referred to as Repack Road, due to the need to repack hub bearings after the long descent. Ten riders descended 1300 feet of Repack in about 5 minutes; only Alan Bonds made it to the finish line and was declared the winner.^[1] Fairfax is a town located in Marin County, California. ...

The first bikes used for descending were known as "clunkers" or "paperboy bikes": coaster brake cruisers using balloon tires first imported to America by Ignatz Schwinn.^[2] By 1979, two organizers and competitors of the Repack downhill, Charlie Kelley and Gary Fisher founded the company which named the sport, MountainBikes.^[3] As mountain biking grew enormously during the 80's, downhill riders continued to use either rigid or limited suspension travel (under 2 inches) bicycles, and purpose made downhill bikes were not made until the 90's. Some of these innovations included dual crown suspension forks and disc brakes, as well as very elaborate frame suspension designs. Charlie Kelley was an early pioneer in the development of modern mountain bicycles. ... Gary Christopher Fisher (born 1950) is the best inventors of the mountain bike. ... On automobiles, disc brakes are located within the wheel The disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel. ...

Later, riders from all disciplines of cycling began focusing on downhill. Particularily, many BMX racers made the crossover, including champions such as John Tomac and Brian Lopes, and their influence is seen in the increase in difficulty of many courses, especially in the "big air" aspect of downhill. John Tomac is a bicycle racer and maker. ... Brian Lopes (born September 6, 1971 in Mission Viejo, California) is a professional mountain bike racer who specializes in four cross. ...

The coming of age for downhill biking was its inclusion at the first UCI Mountain Bike Championship, held in 1990 in Durango, Colorado. This inaugural event was won by Hall of Fame racer Greg Herbold. Entrance of UCI headquarter at Aigle (Switzerland) Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is a professional cycling union that oversees cycling events in the international community. ... The first professional UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships took place in Durango (USA) in 1990. ... Downtown Durango, Colorado Durango (Navajo: Kinłání) is a city in La Plata County, Colorado (USA). ... Greg H-Ball Herbold is a mountain bike racer. ...

References

1. ^ Mountain Bike Hall of Fame - Repack History [1]
2. ^ History of Clunker Bikes [2]
3. ^ Mountain Bike Hall of Fame - inductee Gary Fisher [3]